Forming device



Feb. 17, 1931. H. BIGGAR 1,793,044

w FORMING DEVICE Filed Nov. 15. 192'.'

Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 HUGH BIGGAR, OP OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR TO WESTERN ELECTRICv COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, OP NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OP NEW YORK FORMING DEVICE This invention relates to forming devices, and more particularly to a device for forming the tips of terminals preparatory to interconnecting electrical conductors therewith.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, eiiicient and inexpensive device for forming members for interconnection with other members. l

In accordance with the general features of the invention there is provided in one embodiment thereof a terminal tip forming device comprising a pair of cooperating beveled forming disks which are adapted to engage the terminal tips of adjacent rows of a bank or group of terminals, one of the forming disks serving to preliminarily straighten or align the terminal tips of a row and the other disk serving to bend or separate a previously aligned rowV of terminal tips from the terminals of the adjacent row to facilitate the 'interconnection ofv electrical conductors therewith. Means is also .provided for accurately and conveniently adjusting and securing the disks in a plurality of positions whereby they are adapted to successively engage each row of terminal tips.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a terminal forming device embodying the features of the invention illustrating the manner in which it may be employed to separate the terminal tips of an arcuate-shaped bank or group of terminals;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe structure shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 1s a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3-3'of Fig. 1. 1

The invention is herein illustrated and de scribed as embodied in a device for forming or separating the connecting tips of an arcuate-shaped bank or group of terminals of the type sometimes employed in telephone systems for interconnecting a plurality of telephone circuits. A bank of terminals of this type is indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 2 of Y the drawing by the reference numeral and comprises a plurality of individual terminals 12-12 compactly arranged iin vertical and horizontal rows and rigidly assembled bctween a pair of arcuate-shaped plates 13-13, the rows of terminals being spaced from each other by suitable insulating material.

l/Vhen interconnecting the individual terminals with electrical conductors, the group or bank of terminals is supported upon a fixture or base member 15 which maybe suitably secured to the top of a bench or table (not shown). Parallel bars 16-16 extend ing upwardly from the base member 15 register with suitable apertures provided near each end of the arcuate-shaped supporting plates 13 of the bank of terminals.

The terminal forming device illustrated in the drawing comprises a supporting member 18V having apertures 19-19 provided nea-r Opposite ends thereof, which apertures regis-v ter with the apertures of the terminal bank supporting plates 13 whereby the member 18 may be mounted upon the vertical supporting bars 16. The member 18 is slotted, as indicated at 2O 2), and pivoted at one end upon a pin'21 mounted within the slot 20 is a lever 22, the opposite end of which terminates in a suitable handle 23. A block 24 is slidably mounted in a rectangular slot 25 provided in the lever 22 intermediate its ends. A reduced portion 28 of the block 24 fits loosely in the slot 25 and threaded upon the end of the reduced portion 28 is a disk 30 which serves as a retainingmember to prevent vertical movement of the blockwithin the slot. A

Threaded in the block 24 is a vertically dis# posed feed screw 32 carrying a pair of beveled forming disks 33 and 34 at one end thereof and having thumb engaging wings 35-35 formed at its opposite end. The forming disks 33 and 34 are free to rotate upon the end of the feed screw 32 and are held in place by aretaining plate 36 secured to the end of the feed screw. A latch member 37 engages a vertical groove 38 formed in the feed screw 32 and serves to normally prevent the turn ing ofthe feed screw in the block 24. The latch 37 is held within the groove 38 by Vmeans of a suitable spring 4() secured to the block 24. The latch member 37 may be disengaged from the groove 38 so as to permit turning of the feed screw 32 whereby the forming disks 33 and 34 are successively engaged with each row of terminals. This is accomplished by pressing downwardly upon a thumb engaging portion 43 of the latch member 37. The construction is such that one complete revolution 0f the feed screw 32 causes the disks 33 and 34 to be moved just sufficiently toengage the next adjacent row of terminals.

It is obvious that the forming disks 33 and 34 are movable toward and away Afrom` the terminal tips since, as described above, the block 24 by which the disks are supported is slidably mounted in the slot A tension spring 45 serves to normally holdthe disks 33 and 34 away from the terminal tips. The spring45 is fastened at one end to a-pin 46 secured to the block 24 and is secured at its opposite end to a pin 47 secured to the handle 23.

Means is provided for moving the forming disks 33 and 34 into engagement with the terminal tips against the opposing action of the spring-45. This means comprises a lever 48 which is pivoted intermediate its ends upon a pin 49 secured to the lever 22. rEhe lever 48 is operatively connected with the block 24 through a link 50, one end of which is 'pivoted upon a pin 51 secured tothe block 24, while its opposite end is pivoted upon a pin 52 secured to the lever 4S near one end thereof. Thus, when the opposite end of the lever 48 is mo-ved toward the handle 23 of the lever 22, as shown in F ig. 1, it is obvious that the block 24, together withthe disks 33 and 34, are moved toward the terminalfbank and into engagement with the terminal tips, as best shown inl? ig. 2. When in this position, acurved end portion 54 of the lever 43 is in close contact with the curved outer edge of the block 24 (Fig. 1), thus insuring against outward movement of the disks during the operation of the device.

rlhe operation of the above described forming device is as follows: The lever 48 is turned in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) sufliciently to permit the springV 45 to move the forming disks 33 and 34 outwardly toward the handle 23 of the lever 22. The member 18 is then placed in position above the terminal bank, as shown in Fig. 2, the apertures 19 thereof being engaged with the bars 16, as hereinbefore described. rlhe latch member 37 is now moved out of locking engagement with the feed screw 32 and the latter is turned by means of the wing portions 35 until the forming disk 33 is positioned opposite and intermediate the iirst and second rows of terminals, while the forming diskv 34 is positioned intermediate the second and third rows of terminals. Then in this position, the groove 33 of the feed screw 32 is in alignment with the latch member 37, which upon being released by the operator is again snapped into locking engagement with the feed screw by the spring 40. The forming disks are then moved toward the terminal bank and into operative engagament with the terminal tips by manipulating the lever 48 in themanner hereinbefore described, after which the operator grips the handle 23 and turns the lever 22 back and forthl several times "about its-pivot 21 in-suchl manner that 'the forming disk 33 is rolled back and forth along the upper sur facesnf the first row of terminal tips causing them to bebent downwardly, as best shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the first row of terminal tips are rendered accessible for the interconnection of the associated electrical conductors therewith.- At Athe same time the forming disk 34 is rolled back and' forth along the upper surfaces of the terminal tips of the second-row and is designed so as to cooperate with the upper surface of the forming disk 33 to properly align the terminal tips of the second row so that they may subsequently be formed or bent uniformly by the forming disk 33 upon the feed screw 32 being turned one complete revolution. Likewise, while the terminal tips of the sceond row are being bent downwardly, the terminal tips of the third row are aligned in the same manner as described in connection with the second row of terminal tips. The abovesteps are repeatcd until ally of the terminal -tips have been bentV downwardly and interconnected with their associated conductors.

Although only one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it' should be understood that the novel features of the invention are capable of other applications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a forming device, a support, a lever pivoted therein, a forming member movable laterally with respect to the lever into a plu rality of predetermined positions, and a rcsiliently mounted latch member for locking the forming member in one of said positions.

2. ln a device for forming the tips of terminals assembled in the form of a bank with the tips terminating in spaced rows, a support for the terminal bank, a lever pivoted within the support, a beveled forming disk carried by said lever and-movable longitudinally thereof to engage the tips of the terminal bank, and means for adjusting the forming disk to `successively engage each row of tips.

3. Ina device for forming the connecting tips of terminals assembled in the form of a bank with the connecting tips terminating in spaced rows, a supporting member carrying a pair of spacedfforming members, and means for causing a relative movement between the forming members and the terminal bank lll?) whereby the connecting tips of each row of terminals are successively engaged by the forming members.

4v. In a devicefor forming the connecting tips of a terminal bank, a supporting member carrying a pair of spaced disks, one of said disks for preliminarily aligning a row of terminals and the other disk for bending a previously aligned row of terminals from the next adjacentJ row, and means for causing a relative movement between the disks and the terminal bank whereby the disks are successively engaged with each row of connecting tips.

5. In a device for forming the connecting tips of terminals assembled in the form of a bank with the connecting tips terminating in spaced rows, means for preliminarily aligning a. row of terminal tips, and means operative simultaneously with the aligning means for forming a previously aligned row of terminal tips.

6. In a device for forming the connecting tips of terminals assembled in the form of a bank with the connecting tips terminating in spaced parallel rows, a support for the terminals, a member pivoted to the support, a forming disk carried by the pivoted member and adjustable to a plurality of positions with respect thereto, and means for adjusting the forming disk to one of said positions to engage the connecting tips of the terminals of a predetermined row.

7. In a device for forming the connect ing tips of terminals assembled in the form of a bank with the connecting tips terminating in spaced parallel rows, a forming member for preliminarily aligning a row of terminal tips, a second forming member spaced from the rst forming member and operative simultaneously therewith for forming a previously aligned row of terminal tips, and common means for adjusting the two forming members simultaneously to operate upon the successive rows of terminal ti s.

,pIn witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of October, A. D. 1927.

` HUGH BIGGAR. 

